Facebook facing itself up for a trademark showdown with Apple

Popular social networking site Facebook has already been openly warring against websites that have “book” in the title, but now they may be headed for a legal showdown with Apple as well: they’re trying to get a trademark on the word “Face.”

Apparently, Facebook took over the trademark application for Face from a website called Faceparty.com and is now trying to pursue it more broadly. Needless to say, that would set Facebook up in some pretty big conflicts with a lot of sites and companies… most notably, Apple and its FaceTime video chat system.

Not that Facebook is going unopposed. Aaron Greenspan — the same guy who took FacebooK CEO Mark Zuckerberg to court, saying he stole Facebook from him — is opposing the site. Why? Because Greenspan has a company called ThinkComputer with a product for taking mobile payments called FaceCash.

The possible registration has implications for my company (not to mention hundreds of others, including Apple, Inc.), so I’ve decided to ask the USPTO for an extension of time to oppose it,” says Greenspan.

Here’s the thing: if Facebook gets a trademark for Face, it’s not going to be able to selectively not pursue it, lest it lose its rights. Face, as a trademark, is ridiculously overbroad, so this will set Facebook up for some really big lawsuits. Not only is it bad for the little guys, but you’ve got to wonder if even Facebook might be biting off a little more than it can chew.

Speak Your Mind

The WHOLE thing is stupid!! No one should be able to trademark a word that has been around for thousands of years before they even existed. And i am not talking about face, i mean the word BOOK!!

I agree with tradmarking a name that was MADE UP by a company and never existed before, I could even go so far as agreeing that a company can trade mark two different words combined together (such as Face and Book) wich never existed before said company came along

but to allow a word to be tradmarked just because they use it, when it has been around for ever is just plain stupid. What if EA decided to trademark the word Sports, and no one else were ever allowed to use that word, or Shimano the word Rod?

just plain dumb and should never happen

ninjapirate89

I’m going to trademark every word in the dictionary and sue anyone that uses any of them in any context.

Matt Hickman

If Facebook succeeds, 3Com has the opportunity to monetize much of the IANA naming structure. If they work it right, they can get danegeld from every solvent .com in existence. With the right ruling, they could intimidate by using the U.S. government as their own personal goon squad — just like the RIAA has been trying to do.

http://Nowebsite Diamond D Grier

This is just another advertising ploy.Reverse psychology to brand facebook in the minds of others.

Additionally, facebook should FACE a lawsuit for using millions of people profile to make $100 of millions of dollars from sponsors but don’t share none of the proceeds with the people who profile they used.

I case you didn’t know when people build their network they limited after about 1000 friend to what they can do, and who they can request to be friends with.How controlling. How can you tell someone that they are only limited to certain friends.

Any one can build there own facebook (Free)just google “Social Network” for about $25 dollars monthly you can have your name branded on it.